Followers

Saturday, June 27, 2009

“O mankind! Indeed We have created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know each other. Indeed the most noble of you in the sight of God is the one who is most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted with all things”. (Quran: 49:13)

In the name of Allah, I love the song "Black or White" by Micheal Jackson. It expresses musically the message of humanity very well.

Friday, June 26, 2009

This morning when a friend smsed me that "Micheal Jackson had died", I did not know how to respond. I know that he had planned a tour of comeback in July in London. I was looking forward to it. Man proposes, God disposes, they say.

Now he has returned Home. The human part of me was sad. He had a great impact on me - more than any politician or religious cleric ever could. His life itself was a major message. His songs and dance were powerful reminders of many things, if you "see" beyond the "pop" culture. I do not know what I could write at this moment as there are so many things flying in my mind, all at the same time.

I just wrote about him on 1st June - some 25 days ago. I have been thinking of him for the past two days. I was going to write about him over the weekend, but never thought this is what I will be writing.

His Early days: - One day in your life

The Transformed Micheal: - I will remember the times you shed light in my life, Mikey

Mikey, you are right - at Home, it doesn't matter if your are Black or White. Why should it matter now? I wish we can remember you by understanding this song.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

We are beginning to learn about the futility and danger of racial polarization. We are very slowly accepting the fact that the Creator does not put all the good guys in one ethnic grouping and all the bad guys in another. We are also learning that racism and tribalism is a result of ignorance and misconceived sense of comfort with “group identity”. We are also very slowly learning that decency, acceptance of each other as human beings, love, respect, mutual assistance, and such can be strong binding force between us which are more real than ethnicity and racial similarity. The Creator has in fact disclosed to us the reason why He has created us in diversity:

“O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know each other (not that you may despise (each other). Surely the most honoured of you in the sight of the Creator is (he who is) the most righteous among you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). (Quran: 49:13).

Honour does not come simply from being a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, etc. It comes from being righteous. We have seen since independence that thieves come from all ethnic groupings as do good persons too.

While we are opening our eyes to evils of racial polarization, we are still blind to the more dangerous and emotive phenomenon of religious polarization and extreme religiosity.

This phenomenon becomes doubly dangerous when irresponsible and power-hungry politicians politicize religion and ride on the religion platform for the sole purpose of gaining political power. This is dangerous because it has three possible negative effects:

1) It has a tendency to divide the adherents of the religion itself. For example, in this country, it could divide politically inclined Muslims into PAS Muslim and UMNO Muslims. Such a division, apart from causing obvious disunity in the country could also cause mass confusion among the uninformed party members who idolize their respective political leaders. Politicizing religion often tends to hijack the understanding of the religion along intellectual lines, as it should be.

2) It also tends to divide the Nation as a whole. For example, you immediately alienate the non-Christians if you have a party called Christian Party of Malaysia. Obviously, a Christian party may only allow participation of Christians in the party and this does not augur well for the long term nation building. Nation-building is the responsibility, duty and right of ALL willing and able citizens irrespective of religion, ethnicity or class.

3) Once we allow a political party registered as Islamic Party of Malaysia, you cannot disallow the registration of say a Hindu Party or a Buddhist Party and so on. The floodgates for “religious politicking” are opened. This clearly will worsen religious polarization and one can imagine the kind of political catastrophe that will ensue whenever a general election draws near! The political appeals to religion are highly charged with uncontrollable emotions. One has to look at countries where religion and politics are mixed to understand the explosive potential.

Politics is the art of positioning oneself with the target audience, supporters and potential voters. Invariably, politicians seldom rise to the level of statesmanship. Most of them remain at the popular level pandering to the popular sentiments, norms and thoughts of the Rakyat, even though the thoughts themselves may be immature or incorrect.

“Educative engagement” of the Rakyat is something unknown to most politicians. It is too much effort and the results of such an effort are usually long term. The impatient politician does not have the time to think or to wait. This is why the politicians often opt for the expedient than for the necessary.

When religion enters the equation, we create monsters of the worse sort. In Malaysia, the majority of the Rakyat are Malays and the predominant religion is “Islam”. Hence, any aspiring politician will have to pander to and take into account these two factors – “Malay issues” and “Islam issues”. This will give rise to the tendency for a politician to be “more Malay“ and “more Islam” than anyone else on the face of this earth – to seek attention.

Politics is also about power. The “successful” politician is one who is able to concentrate as much power in himself as possible. In other words, he must have a monopoly over power. Likewise, the politician who uses religion as his political tool will want to concentrate as much “religious authority” in his person as possible. Religious authority, let us not forget is power – power over the minds and conduct of the target concerned.

Hence, it is the prime objective of the “religious” political party to concentrate as much “religious credibility” in its institution as possible, even to the extent of trying to mould public opinion that other institutions should not talk about the religion. We saw this recently in PAS. The leaders of such parties have to try to monopolize the religion itself, if it is possible. They have to position themselves as the last decider of what is and what is not part of the religion which they are using as a political platform.

In our country, politicians have the absolute freedom to make the most illogical and absurd statements which normal people will be embarrassed to make. They do not think twice that what they say will be reflective of their mentality. This is because they are deluded by the mandate they got by being voted in as an MP or an Adun. They mistakenly think that this mandate is a license to dispense with decency and thinking. Hence, arrogance is born.

Religious arrogance among the people in power and in authority is the worst form of oppressive conduct. People who are arrogant tend to be oppressors. They are unable to accept dissenting views because they take it as a personal affront to their power. They want to be the sole interpreter of the religion and everyone else MUST accept it. Non-compliance may lead to dangerous irrational behaviour on their part. In the Quran, an example of a person with major religious arrogance (and with political power) is the Pharaoh.

“But the sorcerers fell down prostrate in adoration, saying: "We believe in the Lord of the Worlds,- The Lord of Moses and Aaron. (Quran : 7:121 -122)

“Said Pharaoh: "Believe you in Him before I give you permission? Surely this is a trick which you have planned in the city to drive out its people: but soon shall you know (the consequences)”. (Quran: 7:123)

The Egyptian people could not decide on their faith WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING PHARAOH’ PERMISSION. In other words, the Pharoah has a monopoly over the religion of the Egyptians and he becomes a god. This is arrogance leading to oppression. DO you not notice how people with religious arrogance react violently when they feel that their views or positions are being challenged? This is precisely how the Pharaoh reacted:

"Be sure I will cut off your hands and your feet on apposite sides, and I will cause you all to die on the cross." (Quran: 7:124 )

Any dissenting views will be met with a final punishment – death, ban, ostracize.

I believe that every citizen of this country has the right to practice and profess the religion of his choice and no one else has the right to compel his views (especially if you are in political power) on others. Politics tend to take wither down this right of the ordinary Rakyat because it wants to concentrate power in the hands of the politician. ON the contrary, I believe that it is the power of the politicians to interfere with this Rakyat’s right that should be curtailed by laws.

To this end, I would support any legislation that outlaws the use of names of religion attached to political parties. This will free the religion from politics and allow the true teachings of the religion to be understood.

For example, years and years of brainless enmity between the Shias and Sunnis in the middle eastern countries and Pakistan testify to the dangers of religious arrogance - it gives rise to bloodshed, loss of property and all round misery for the people. Examples of Hinduism mixed with politics in India is also another case in point.

Religious arrogance and misuse of religion by politicians must be nipped in the bud before it becomes a major national security threat and hampers intellectual development in the country.

Monday, June 15, 2009

I have placed here part of the report, the relevant parts of which I want to comment. You can read the full report here. My comments in italics are based on the assumption that the Star had reportedly correctly, otherwise, I stand to be corrected.

The Star Online, Monday June 15, 2009PAS chief questions organisation’s credentials on Islamic lawBy CHOI TUCK WOLONDON: PAS has taken a swipe at Sisters In Islam (SIS), a group which the party wants banned.Party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang questioned the expertise and credentials of the group, saying it had no right to talk about Islamic law.

Fine. I suppose you can question the credentials of anyone on any subject. But by credentials what do you mean? Do you mean the degrees that one has obtained from a University? We must surely agree that having degrees too does not necessarily mean that one has the credentials. After all, it is NOT DIFFICULT GETTING DEGREES IS IT? I can go on and on with this point but suffice to say that paper qualifications do not necessarily equal competence in the field studied.

Possibly, it may be argued that one credential could be acceptance or “pengiktirafan” by some quarters. Even this qualification is debatable - one can question the mode of “pengiktirafan” or even the quality of those who are “iktirafing”. One may ask: Is Hadi saying that he has the necessary credentials and expertise to talk on Islamic Law then? Of course being a lawyer and a Muslim, I will say he has the right to talk on Islam but I am only putting back the “standard” he is putting on others – what “superior” credentials he has? Kalau setakat masters atau phd yang ada serta buku-buku yang dibaca dianggap sebagi credentials muktamad, tak payah lah. You may be informative but that does not necessarily make you knowledgeable or solely correct. If that was so, then why are there differing views between the shia and sunni scholars and even among themselves?

It was the party’s democratic right to call for the ban on SIS for its involvement in issues concerning Islamic law despite not being an expert in the field, Hadi said after giving a talk on “Think: Islam Leads The Change” organised by the Malaysian Overseas Forum here on Saturday.

1) Earlier he says sis has no right to talk about Islamic issues but PAS has the democratic right to ask for sis to be banned. What about sis’ democratic right to talk on Islamic issues? 2) There is a bit of confusion here. The Straits Times reported that apparently the division that proposed the resolution had made a mistake. This was reported as being Khalid Samad’s explanation:"The wording contradicted what we wanted to say. We want to debate with SIS and not to arrest them or rehabilitate them," Khalid said.So can Hadi clarify this – does the party want sis to be banned or not?In any event, I had just spoken to YB Khalid Samad on my hand phone and he kindly confirmed to me that NST quoted him correctly. He also pointed out to me his explanation on his blog. I think this article should be read as I am of the view that it is written in line with Quranic principles.

“When talking about aerospace, you ask somebody from Nasa, not someone in Somalia,” he said in response to a joint statement by 42 organisations, including SIS, urging PAS to retract its call.

I beg to differ here YB Tuan Guru Datuk Haji Hadi. Your analogy is inappropriate. Obviously when you talk about aerospace you go to somebody in Nasa and not to the nasi lemak seller in Kampong Pandan. What you overlooked is this: the Nasa expert is not going to condemn you to hell if you disagree with him. He is not going to get angry with you if you talk or write nonsense about aerospace. He is not going to label you deviant. AT the most, he may just shrug off his shoulders and think that he should not waste time with an ignoramus.

On the other hand, what do so-called “religious experts” by various names do? They compel you to accept their views forgetting that they too undergo the same biological functions as you do. Only that, if you disagree with their views they will label you deviant!

YB Hadi, of course when you have medical problems, you go and see the doctor and not the car mechanic. If you are not happy with the doctor, you can always see another doctor for a different treatment. Most important, if the doctor got it wrong, you can sue him for negligence.

YB Hadi, can a “religious expert” be sued for negligence for giving wrong opinions and advice?

Any one of you coming along with me to my grave to argue your case in front of the Creator in defence of me? I am so sure YB Hadi must have read (and understood) the following verse from the Quran:

“And behold! you come to us bare and alone as We created you for the first time: you have left behind you all (the favours) which We bestowed on you: We see not with you your intercessors whom you thought to be partners in your affairs: so now all relations between you have been cut off, and your (pet) fancies have left you in the lurch!” (Quran 6:94)

See? The Quran says neither you nor sisters-in-Islam can be my intercessor with Allah. Both of you can make all the statements you want but I have to decide for myself. SO, if you cannot be with me in defence of me, why must I be compelled to accept your views? I do not think “credentials and expertise” from some University will be a major consideration in the hereafter. In fact, Surah At-Taubah (9) verse 31 warns us about taking priests and doctors of religion as gods.

SO, the comparison between knowledgeable experts (ulama) and “religious experts” (or habr) is totally inappropriate and misleading. The Creator is so merciful. He gave us Islam (peace) as a mercy and not as a burden. Let us not be high-handed like Firaun.

Obviously we love our country very much. This is our home. We are not privileged like the elitist politicians and corporate figures to have second or third homes in Australia, new Zealand or England. We and our children have only one home – Malaysia. Due to this, we have no choice but to take good care of our home. But what does “taking good care of our home” mean? This means many things and it is a heavy and continuous responsibility.

For starters, we must put the proper people in charge of the country. But what kind of choices do we have apart from the current political system which we have seen can be abused to the hilt? How do we project and put forth responsible people to be in charge of the country under the current political system? Seems almost impossible.

So, it appears that one choice open to us is to be honest in our evaluation of the events that happen around us and to take the necessary action in safeguarding our right to live peacefully. In this quest, we have to be forthright, courageous and persistent.

Can you not feel the third world mentality that is prevalent in our country? This mentality abounds among our politicians and they appear bent on making it a national culture. In the first world, people do not talk about obvious things or things that require common sense. For example only in the third world does a Prime Minster make statements like, “pandulah cermat dijalan raya”. In the first world, the Prime Minister will talk about steps taken to make the roads safe for users. We had a PM before who spent FOUR years of our lives giving us fatherly advice that we did not need. What we needed was concrete reforms and policies.

In the first world also, leaders do not behave like personal moral custodians of the public. They do not tell you what exactly to wear or how you should think. Can you imagine President Obama or the Prime Minister of say, Britian, Germany or Australia telling their citizens what to wear in public, what you can say and what you cannot say, etc. All this is child-stuff fit for children and third world countries -hand-kissing countries.

In the first world, leaders are held accountable for what they do and say. In the third world, they are worshipped and held up as Lords.

Are we third world citizens? We have in our midst for, example, a group of politicians who DECLARE that sisters-in-Islam are dangerous and that they should be banned. Ironically, this group of politicians speaks in the name of religion. Firstly, it never dawns upon them that another person who may profess the same religion with them may not agree with their understanding. Secondly, it is shocking that a political party finds differing views (assuming they have views) unacceptable WHEN THEY ARE NOT EVEN IN POWER YET! For the record, I am not aligned to nor am I known to sisters-in-Islam.

How long more must the people of this country tolerate such religious arrogance? Is it not sheer arrogance to speak like God and without basis? In the Quran, only one personality exuded such religious arrogance – Firaun. You cannot think or decide any religion without his permission. He is the sole decider of what is religious and what is not. He is a god.

To me, it is absolutely third world mentality when you have to depend on someone else who undergoes the same biological functions as you do to determine your faith. How long more do the citizens of Malaysia want to be subjugated to these politicians on matters touching you soul? This is the real danger that you have when you mix politics and religion. The religious politicians mutates into a god on earth.

I have said this before and I am repeating it: every action of the politicians affects our lives and the lives of our future generation. If we do not evolve into Raperas but remain as ordinary citizens thinking that what they do will not affect us, then we are charting our own doom. We have to mature into thinking adults and must sent the message home to these kind of politicians to stop insulting us.

If possible, chase them out of politics so that they can spend time pondering what it means to be truly subservient to the Creator.

Politicians who are arrogant, lack love in their hearts, divide people into races and religions, selfish, corrupt, and incapable of respecting other people’s differing views cannot be good people who truly believe in the Creator. They want to be gods. Would you trust your child in their care?

You decide – do you want to mature or still remain in the third world mentality?

Snow White was crying and looking absolutely sad. She could not believe that two of her seven dwarfs could..... She has not confirmed herself yet but this was told to her by the rabbit that accidentally got lost from Alice in wonderland. But Wonderland is a land of make belief and the longer you stay there, you tend to believe it is real. In the real world, real things happen as the rabbit found out.

But Snow White was just not prepared to hear the fate of her two dwarfs. How?

“Leadership” is a peculiar thing. When you are appointed a prefect in school, you are a leader. Never mind the fact that you are a lousy leader. It goes into your resume that you are a prefect and you will enjoy the respect that comes with being a prefect. But being a prefect, you are not in a position to do damage to many others.

Like wise, when you enter politics and you are chosen to be a candidate and for some reason you win and become and MP and then you become a Minister, you are also viewed as a leader. Never mind the fact that you have absolutely no professional qualifications to be a Minster of your Ministry or that you are absolutely inefficient. You will still be seen as a leader and you will enjoy all the privileges that come with – handshaking, respect, perks, etc, etc. In fact, regardless of your thinking capacity and mental ability, even the press will report what you have to say on matters you are completely clueless because you are a Minister.

It also does not seem to matter that you do not work at your Ministry on what you are responsible for because you are very busy meeting your party people, giving speeches, posing for the camera and following the PM wherever he goes. It also does not matter that you do not read beyond the mainstream newspapers and that the last serious book you read was when you graduated from your University. It really does not matter because people will still give you the red carpet treatment because you are a leader. And the PM probably is not able to sack you because you wield influence and power within the party – hence your excuse to be an honorable imbecile. You are not to be blamed though. It is the people’s choice and they deserve you.

To the thinking public, it is frightening how the quality of leadership affects the well being of the people for generations and generations. Beyond the titles, the red carpet and the appearance of power lies the real power to do real good or real damage.

The disgusting and dangerous thing about political leadership is that once you get into a comfortable leadership position, the “momentum and expediency” of politics WILL advance you in your political career however incompetent or useless you are. It is this political momentum that makes many leaders think that it is their birthright to be the elitist, powerful, and rich till either old age, or tragedy or death brings them back to earth. But until such time arrives, people suffer. People suffer, I suppose because they chose to.

It is a tough task trying to identify quality leadership because there is so much stage managing in our midst - I am talking all round. The political culture smells so bad that one cannot be faulted in hiding in the toilet - without even having flushed the toilet yet! A friend said that we deserve the stench because we had mortgaged our thinking capacities a long time ago...and our courage and our dignity as a human being. I do not know.

It is a humorous aspect of human history I suppose, how charlatans and show masters are often rewarded. One big club of conspirators to maintain their influence, wealth and power in their midst. The ones that can make a difference are often sidelined. Or maybe, the ones that can make a difference are not willing to be part of the circus of fools. Maybe these people are not fascinated by the glitter of power and wealth and hence they remain free and true to their souls?

I will not, however underestimate the power of collective goodness and the natural laws to temper the progress of the pretenders.

Friday, June 5, 2009

He was correct when he stated that the world must move away from stereotypes and generalizations. Each of us are individual human beings and are not defined by the group that we are socially or ethnically or nationally put into. This is a lesson which all of us must learn if we are to progress forward as a human. As President Obama correctly put it, "we cannot build relationships based on our differences".

I feel that much of his speech is relevant to our country too. We too have the minority extremists of all types (religious and racial bigots, etc) in our midst who cause discord and mischief among the Malaysian People. I do hope that 1Malaysia will at least be a beginning for us to talk like Malaysians irrespective of ethnic or religious background.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Latest news on the consequences of making our society into a gambling society. It appears that addictive gamblers are turning to loan sharks and literally paying for it with their dignity, freedom and sometimes life. Some men were chained and locked up by loan sharks for defaulting on loans.

According to Datuk Michael Chong some 80% of the 870 cases involving loan sharks recorded by the MCA Public Services and Complaints Department since January last year involved habitual gamblers. In this process the family of the gamblers become victims.

Does'nt anyone in the Government know that gambling is addictive and kills families?

Can someone in the Government explain why we have turned the Klang Valley into a casino by having more than 65 slot machines clubs?

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

One got to watch and watch carefully who gets appointed to GLCs and why. Who gets appointed to become advisers and why. Watch because by watching you will be able to discern the reasons why and WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT THEREOF.

The economy and its ramifications thereto. Better watch. July and August.

I am concerned and I am worried. I only hope that my concern and worry is misplaced. I feel that we have become a society that is adept at contradictory behavior in many aspects of our life. What is worrisome is that it seems to have become a National trait.

We often hear that we want to inculcate the culture of knowledge among young people. We even hear that we want our society to be knowledge prone. DO we really mean it when we say that?

DO we really want to have a culture of knowledge in our society? Frankly, I do not think so. Like so many things in our Land of the Blur, we have mastered the art of stating slogans and nice sounding phrases that we do not understand. We are only saying such things to please each others ears; to feel that we are “not too bad ourselves”. Hmmm….

Culture of knowledge? Really now???? For our society to evolve into a society which has a culture of knowledge, a few things must happen first.

Firstly, we must allow each to think and to think loudly. Which means, you must be patient with what I have to say and you should think about what I have to say. After listening, you are supposed to evaluate what had said as objectively as possible and then comment, commend or criticize. Will you allow me to say my piece or have you already been brainwashed into what is sensitive and what is not, what is heavy and what is light, what can be openly discussed and what can only be said privately, etc. I too should say it as well as I possible can with no other intention than to share or to put forward a view which I think may help society or me or you.

Secondly, does our society encourage thinking or must we always follow the leader regardless of how mediocre he is? Can you not see what is happening in our society? Politicians have the microphone and the paper coverage all the time. They are allowed to yak, yak all the time. For example, remember when Pak Lah was PM, he was the best this and the best that. He had all the ideas. For the life of me I cannot figure out how thinking can even retire! In the field of religion, only the AUTHORISED person is allowed to speak. It is as if authority and ability to think go hand in glove! If that was so, then I figure Hitler, Mussolini and Firquan were great thinkers too since they had authority!

Great thoughts do not come from a person simply because the Government projects the person. No. Great thoughts come from the passion for thinking and intention. It is something you cannot avoid. You try to shut off and you cannot. It is as if it is not your doing. Do we allow this? No. Seriously, look around you in our Land of the Blur – who are the opinion shapers? DO you think these people can be catalyst for culture of knowledge?

Thirdly, have we learnt that it is perfectly okay to have someone say something that we disagree with? I think our society has not learnt that we are not on earth for everyone to be like a product from the production like looking EXACTLY the same. It does not have to be that way and it cannot be that way. Different people will have different views. It is cool so there is no need to get heated up. The main thing is we discuss respectfully and cordially.

Fourthly, for a culture of knowledge to come about, example by leadership will help. If you can get leaders who do not read beyond the local newspapers it is bad example. Worse if you get leaders who shout and dramatize into the microphone instead of speaking intelligibly whenever they purportedly make a speech, we are fast turning into a society of clowns. Not motivating at all. Do not get me wrong. I enjoy comedy. I watch funny movies. However, when I hear politicians use emotions and childish drama and choose popular phrases when they make a speech, it really makes me squirm. I keep thinking. “wow he really thinks I am dumb enough to fall for that trick”. But I look around and see many clap! Welcome to the Land of the Blur!

Fifthly, for culture of knowledge to evolve, we should not be using the law, position and power to make I”thinking” a monopoly of a select few in society. Don’t you think that is a common trait in our society? I actually rasa malu when I hear some person in power talk in public because dia ada jalan. Luckily, the Creator took remedial steps by giving mankind the internet. Padan muka…monopoly also gone. But they never learn and we keep allowing them to dominate the real space. They plan and the Creator plans and of course the Creator’s plan is better. With the internet, fools are exposed for what they are despite their power and position.

Hello…read history. What do you think happened to real thinkers and reformers in their lifetime? You think most of them were awarded titles and honorific in their lifetime? Socrates was murdered by the elite and bangsawan of his society. Remember Galileo? So many examples to give. So many. Sometimes you must be prepared to be oppressed or murdered for thinking. To some, a thinking person is considered dangerous! Alaaahaii........

Let me ask you a question – which is more “powerful and stronger” – water or steel?

Monday, June 1, 2009

I have always liked Micheal Jackson songs and his dancing for along time. In fact he is probably the only artist whose development in the music industry I followed. In a sense, I use him to compare with my developments in my life and end up concluding that he has so much greater discipline and persistence than I do!

He is, of course the undisputed King of Pop. KING. A self made King from scratch who resides in the hearts of those who like his songs. Surely, even if you hate his songs, you must admire the fact that with all the odds against him, he managed to be KING.

Funny, many of his songs remind me of the signs of the Creator especially the one called the Man in the Mirror - so inward looking. Every time I hear that song, I feel that I have done so little in this world. Every time I hear that song, it is a reminder NOT to point fingers at others but criticize myself first. Amazing that Micheal Jackson had a greater impact on me than any cleric in constantly reminding me of the Creator. I suppose it has to do with perceptions - the window of your soul.

MIkey, like all of us, you have to journey your own path. Thank you for mingling with mine. I sincerely wish that you will pass all the tests that are laid on your journey.

Mikey's Earth song reminds me of so many verses from the Quran and in particular this one:

"Shall We treat those who believe and work deeds of righteousness, the same as those who do mischief on earth? Shall We treat those who guard against evil, the same as those who turn aside from the right?" (Quran :38:28)

Earth Song Lyrics - Micheal Jackson

What about sunriseWhat about rainWhat about all the thingsThat you said we were to gain.. .What about killing fieldsIs there a timeWhat about all the thingsThat you said was yours and mine...Did you ever stop to noticeAll the blood we've shed beforeDid you ever stop to noticeThe crying Earth the weeping shores?

Aaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaah

What have we done to the worldLook what we've doneWhat about all the peaceThat you pledge your only son...What about flowering fieldsIs there a timeWhat about all the dreamsThat you said was yours and mine...Did you ever stop to noticeAll the children dead from warDid you ever stop to noticeThe crying Earth the weeping shores

Aaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaah

I used to dreamI used to glance beyond the starsNow I don't know where we areAlthough I know we've drifted far

Aaaaaaaaaaah AaaaaaaaaaaahAaaaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaaaaah

Hey, what about yesterday(What about us)What about the seas(What about us)The heavens are falling down(What about us)I can't even breathe(What about us)What about the bleeding Earth(What about us)Can't we feel its wounds(What about us)What about nature's worth(ooo,ooo)It's our planet's womb(What about us)What about animals(What about it)We've turned kingdoms to dust(What about us)What about elephants(What about us)Have we lost their trust(What about us)What about crying whales(What about us)We're ravaging the seas(What about us)What about forest trails(ooo, ooo)Burnt despite our pleas(What about us)What about the holy land(What about it)Torn apart by creed(What about us)What about the common man(What about us)Can't we set him free(What about us)What about children dying(What about us)Can't you hear them cry(What about us)Where did we go wrong(ooo, ooo)Someone tell me why(What about us)What about babies(What about it)What about the days(What about us)What about all their joy(What about us)What about the man(What about us)What about the crying man(What about us)What about Abraham(What was us)What about death again(ooo, ooo)Do we give a damn

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It is obvious that the country belongs to all its citizens.

Malaysia is the home of all Malaysians. All Malaysians. Since it is our home, it is our duty to take care of it.

Even in our house, sometimes we have our siblings who may do things that may damage our home. Or they may show selfish tendencies that make the house less of a home. Home is to be shared by all. We have to make it a happy home habitable by all of us.

If we do not care for the state of the home, then we are behaving like a guest in the hotel. We have no say in the state of the hotel room. We just do not care as long as we can sleep there for a while. We have no attachment.

To some citizens, the country may be a house, but to the Rapera, the country is a home.

WORDS OF WISDOM

"I am concerned with the quality of some politicians. I hope the leaders will put some thought into grooming and succession. This is like a race. The baton must be passed to the best runner to finish the race. We are talking about the future of our children. They deserve the best leaders".